Blogging Beautifully For Today’s Brides

I got a frantic call about six weeks before the nuptials for this Real Wedding couple Steven and Sharon. The groom called me while I was directing a wedding rehearsal saying that he needed help quickly for his beloved fiance who was at the end of her sanity and he didn’t know what he was going to do. I met Sharon the next week. I assured her that I could take everything off her hands and she could begin to refocus on what was important about her special day. It was a pleasure to actually watch this lovely young woman exhale right in front of my eyes!

When planning a wedding you should make it your business to do your research on the price of flowers. If you choose flowers to be part of your wedding day, which most people getting married do, you will need flowers for yourself and your partner, your attendants, ceremony and reception sites. This can be very costly depending on the types and volume of your flowers, and also on the style/design of flowers. The price can range from a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Here are some of my recommendations on how to save on your wedding flowers!

1. Purchase your flowers in season. Even though many flowers can be found year around because of our global floral market, your choices will still be cheaper in season.

2. Don’t use flowers for everything. For example, if it’s an evening ceremony or an evening reception, use lots and lots of votives and candles of all sizes. Candles are the least expensive way I know to add lots of ambience without the price.

3. Transfer your ceremony flowers to your reception venue if applicable. As a florist I must point out that this option has to be one that is feasible with your venue locations. Many brides today are getting married and having their receptions at the same venue which makes it convenient for everyone. But if your ceremony venue is an hour from your reception venue, this suggestion may not work well for you or your florist!

4. Use inexpensive flowers. My suggestions are carnations and chrysanthemums. They come in many colors. And chrysanthemums come in many varietals. Also use a lot of greenery in combination with the flowers.

5. Use one to three color palettes. This will allow your florist to order in bulk which cost less. And one or two types of flowers. Simple arrangements often make the biggest impact.

Crazy BOLD Colors! In Part 2 of “Fall Colors in Wedding Design”, I want to display my other favorite fall color combination from the Pantone Color Institute. They are American Beauty, Iron and Warm Olive.

American Beauty

Why this color? Because RED is my absolute favorite color of all time! American Beauty is a deep jewel tone, true red that balances well with other colors. It’s perfect for all skin tones. American Beauty is a rich and passionate color that ignites the senses and makes us feel alive!

Iron

The Pantone Color Institute has pegged the strong yet understated Iron as the “new black”, this fall season. Iron is making traditional basics much more interesting. Neither gray nor brown, Iron is a grounding color that coordinates well with all colors in the palette.

Warm Olive

Warm Olive, a rich yellow-green adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to fall. This is my favorite accent color when doing floral design. When combined, this tangy, intriguing hue makes all other colors more interesting!

Check-out this lovely Inspiration Board displaying how wonderful these colors work with one another. To see the 2009 Pantone Color Institute Fall Color Report, click on “COLOR”.

“Purple Majesty” is how I would describe this stunning wedding held at The Charlotte Museum of History in Charlotte, NC. Our “Real Wedding” couple Amonde & Stephanie were two very busy professionals, but through all of the emails and calls, we as a team pulled it all together. What I found so interesting about this couple was that my groom Amonde was very involved in the planning process more then my bride Stephanie. To my surprise the day before the wedding I found out that Amonde has a degree in Interior Design which made the end result even more delicious for me and my team. He and his bride were thrilled!

About

University Hilton - Charlotte, NC

My name is Rene’ Davenport and I have been in the business of weddings in some form or the other for over 10 years. Whether I am planning a wedding, styling a wedding or both, I love anything and everything that has to do with weddings and the beauty connected to them. For me to create something beautiful is to breathe in and out. I need it, I feel it. To create something beautiful makes me feel alive and useful. I get so excited when signing a new client! It’s like a blank slate. And to see the finished product is better than cheesecake!

So when I say I love what I do, that is an understatement. It is a privilege and blessing to help you make that special day all that you ever dreamed it could be. Call me! Oh, and remember…………Enjoy Beauty! (That’s you)